The
second offering from aggro-political rockers Skunk Anansie finds
producer Garth Richardson (L7, Rage Against the Machine) at the helm.
Frontwoman Skin's vocals grab the listener by the scruff of the neck and
demand attention. The rest of the band backs her with a frenzied, yet
focused, sonic attack, giving serious punch to tracks like the breakneck
"Twisted (Everyday Hurts)" and the lumbering, scathing "We Love Your
Apathy." Stoosh finds Skunk Anansie still raging for political activism
(albeit sometimes through muddy lyrics), and the band makes no bones
about that fact (addressed succinctly on "Yes It's F*****g Political."
Skin proves herself capable of more personal issues as well on the
subtle, moody "Infidelity (Only You)" and the lighter (musically)
pop/rocker "Glorious Pop Song." Skunk Anansie's full-frontal charge can
be wearing at times, but for a good dose of aggressive, hard rock with
better-than-average lyrics, Stoosh succeeds more than it fails.